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Vacation photos: Palm Springs and L.A.

For the holidays, we went to Palm Spring and Los Angeles for two weeks. It was great to get a blast of California sunshine, and a few funny things happened during our trip...I couldn't stop smooching this little hunk. Those soft biceps are too tempting! (Don't his arms look like Pillsbury crescent rolls?)And after Alex snapped this photo at the Ace Hotel, we realized how similar it is to this photo of Toby at the same age! Uncanny!We piled into a lovely rental house in Palm Springs and spent long lazy days with my dad and Alex's family around the pool, playing guitar and picking grapefruit off the trees. The best part was the fire pit, which we'd sit around in the evenings with a bottle of wine.And guess who learned how to sit??? Bravo, Antoni!On Christmas Eve, Alex's sister got engaged! Her boyfriend played their favorite song and proposed before dinner, in front of everyone. We were all in tears! As you can see, Toby was awestruck, and now he's totally obsessed with weddings. He has asked me if I'm married about 1,000 times. And he often tells me, with a very serious expression, "I'm not married, Mama. I'm just a bachelor."After Palm Springs, we drove to L.A. for a week...My mom met us there, which was such a treat! In the photo above, she was indulging me by trying on the plumberry lipstick I'm obsessed with:) She was also a really good sport and played Cards Against Humanity with us, although the cards were so inappropriate that she laughed too hard to say them and made us read them for her!We stayed in a sweet Venice apartment, which we booked through Kid & Coe, the kid-friendly vacation rental website. It was our first time staying in one of their homes, and it worked out really well: Toby loved playing with the toys (especially the trains and airplanes), and they had a crib for Anton, which made packing that much easier.One afternoon we went to Blue Plate Oysterette, where we had fish sandwiches and Anton flirted with the waitress.Afterward we went by the Santa Monica Pier, and my mom taught Toby the joys of whack-a-mole.Another afternoon, we went to the James Turrell retrospective at LACMA. Have you seen his stunning light installations? And I was surprised by how each color affected our moods—the pink room, above, immediately mellowed us all out. Other rooms felt like haunted houses—you'd have to creep down a pitch-black hallway, holding onto the wall, until you turned a corner to see all different shades of light. The exhibition was fantastic. (Sadly, we only got to see half before we had to hurry home for the boys' naps!)Finally, on one of our last evenings, we discovered sledding on the beach! We had no idea this existed! We borrowed a round sled to take the Venice Pier and actually got up to some pretty good speeds:)Anyway, it was such a great trip and we miss California already! Sending a big kiss westward :) Hope you had a wonderful holiday!! xoxo

Here's a video of sledding that my friend took:)

P.S. Our Christmas trips over the pastthreeyears, if you'd like to see.

Yay! I'm so happy you are back. I've missed you dearly, especially because I'm 7 weeks preggers and going through a little mood slump :( Baby hormones are making me crazy, but we are so thankful to add a little one to our family. Your vaca looks dreamy. Toby and Anton are getting so big. I love your blog and I'm excited for the changes that will help you do more of what you love. Can't wait!

So glad you made it to the Turrell show!! Isn't it just incredible? I just finished writing a term paper on him for one of my classes last semester (I'm an art history grad student). I think he's one of the most sincere and important contemporary artists around. It's great that the LACMA show has been up for so long so that many people can enjoy it.

Your voice surprised me when I watched the video! It's weird, I realized all these years of reading your blog I've subconsciously thought your voice sounded like mine since that's what I heard in my head!

Your voice surprised me when I watched the video! It's weird, I realized all these years of reading your blog I've subconsciously thought your voice sounded like mine since that's what I heard in my head!

Welcome back! So glad to see you all had a wonderful Christmas trip! I must say that Anton looks just like Alex! I remember an older post about how you guys couldn't figure out who Anton looked more like. I say its definitely Alex. Meanwhile Toby looks just like u. Pretty awesome how genetics work huh? :)

It was so fun seeing you at LACMA. I felt legitimately starstruck; I've just been reading the blog for so long! Toby was so sweet to my little Jude, and I'm glad you all had a great time in our lovely state.

Looks like a lovely vacation... and celebrating christmas in the warmth- that for me would be strange but Wonderful! I was finally home for christmas this year (winnipeg, canada) and man -50 is not fun! BUt i'm curious, you showed pictures from your vacation, but none from christmas eve/day. How do you guys celebrate? Would be nice to hear. And how did toby like it, he's in that prime age for making christmas magical.Anyway, glad to see you back :) Love coming to your blog daily (sometimes more than once ;) )- Mona

mona, thanks for your note! we go to an episcopal church on christmas eve (toby LOVES the music), and then we hang stockings. he thought it was really magical this year and asked santa for a real motorcycle. (santa brought a toy one instead:) it was such a great year! we should have taken more photos! :)

Thank you! for the lovely pictures of southern California. My family visited me instead, so I didn't get to go home. I so miss walking on the beach and the sound of the waves. And great recommendations about where to stay in LA and Palm Springs.

Oh my gosh, we played Cards Against Humanity with my parents over Thanksgiving. It was so awkward, and so inappropriate, but we had so much fun! My mom (the preschool teacher) won of course!~Sarah @ 702 Park Project

Hi Joanna! I've been a longtime reader of your blog and this is my very first time to leave a comment. What can I say? I'm jealous that you get to smooch such cuteness all day. It's been a while for me. Aaaaaaaah makes me want to have another one right this instant.

I think i might just have to pin little Anton. the perfect little baby:)I hope you don't mind.Btw,welcome back!! I am looking forward to this new year with all the changes that will be happening with your awesome blog!

So funny, my husband and I are taking our 5 month old to Palm Springs & LA for 2 weeks this month. I've been looking everywhere for recommendations. We've never been to Palm Springs and my husband's only done LA on tour sans baby. I'd love any suggestions.

These are my favourite types of your posts! Welcome back - glad you guys had a fabulous vacation. Anton and his chubby little belly is too cute, but the expression on Toby's face looking at the engagement ring takes the cake - it's like he just saw Elmo! (does he realise who you are married to by the way?)